Device for cleaning, dyeing, drying, and the like



g- 1931- c. cs. MUNTERS 1,819,618

DEVICE FOR CLEANING, DYEING, DRYING, AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 19, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 18, 1931. c. e. MUNTERS 3 DEVICE. FOR CLEANII IG,DYEING, DRYING, AND TI' XE LIKE Filbd Nov. 19. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iif V I I I I 4, mv T lA-ATTORNEY Aug, 18, 1931. c. e, MUNTERS 1,819,613

' DEVICE FOR CLEANING, DYEING DRYING, AND THE LIKE Fi'led Nov. 19, 19293 Sheets-Sheet 3 e/JMl/M 1 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1931 PATIENTOFFICE CARL GEORGMUN'TEBS, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN DEVICE FOR CLEANING,DYEING, DRYING, AND THE LIKE Application filed November -19, 1929,Serial No. 408,215, and in Sweden March 22, 1929.

My invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved device forcleaning, dyeing and /or drying articles such as fabrics and cleaningand/or drying dishes or the like.

One of the important objects attained is the provision of such acleaning device in which violent ebullition of the cleaning fluid maytake place without the loss, in the form of vapor, of any of the fluid.This is preferably 1 accomplished by the condensation of ,the vapor inthe upper part of the device and is of particular value when a fluid isemployed, the loss of which it is desired to prevent, or when a solutionconsisting of two or more liquids is used, the fractional distillationof which would undesirably vary the strength of the solution.

An advantage of my invention lies'in the fact that more or less violentebullition of the cleaning fluid may be obtained at a temperature belowthe normal boiling point of the fluid at atmospheric pressure by themaintenance of a partial vacuum in the device.

Further, this vacuum may be maintained without the withdrawal of any ofthe vapor by means of a vacuum pump or the like. Preferably it ismaintained by condensation of the vapor within the device whereby thecondensate is returned and revaporized."

A further object of my invention is the provision of means causing adefinite circulation of the cleaning fluid without the use of pumps or.moving parts, but preferably through the agency of a thermo-siphoncirculator.

A still further advantage of my invention is the incorporation into thedevice of a suitable filter through Which the cleaning fluid 0 is causedto pass. Thus, much of the dirt removed by the fluid from 111% articlesto becleaned, is in turn removed from the former by the filter and thelife of the fluid is greatly prolonged. The circulation. through thefilter is preferably promoted by a thermo-siphon 'circulator.

Another advantage embodied in my invenparent from the following more orless detailed description. considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, of which: Fig. l is \an elevational view, chieflyin cross-section, of one of the preferred embodiments ofmy invention;

ig. 2 is an elevational View, chiefly in cross-section, of a devicesimilar to that shown in Fig. 1, but embodying a thermo-siphon'circulator and a filter;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, chiefly in cross-section, of another formof my invention showing a modified circulating means Fig. 4 is anelevational view, chiefly in. cross-section, of a portion of theapparatus shown in any one of the first three views, but embodying adifferent cooling means;

Fig. 5is an elevational View, chiefly in cross-section, showing a stilldifferent arrangement of cooling means;

v Fig. 6 is an elevational view, chiefly in cross-section, of-amodification of my invention adapted for drying materials; 7

'Fig. 7 is an elevational view, chiefly incross-section, of a preferredembodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 8 is an elevational view, chiefly in cross-section, of a slightlymodified preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, ref erence character 10 indicatesa metallic con- 90 tainer which is arranged to be heated in any suitableway, as by thegas burner 11. A valve outlet 12 is provided near thebottom of container 10 for the purpose of drawing ofi liquid containedtherein. The top of the container is constructed with av flange 13 whichretains a packing 1 f. A cover member 15 is arranged to close the top ofcontainer 10 with the aid of packing 14 and may be held in place by anysuitable clamps, such as those to-waste, such as a sewer.

shown at 16. As will be explained later, the use of these clampsordinarily is not necessary.

Cover is preferably made in the form of an inverted bowl, across thebottom of which extends a perforated plate 17. A conduit in the form ofa coil 18 is placed between the plate 17 and the cover proper. The endsof the conduit forming coil 18 are extended through cover 15 and form aninlet and an outlet for the coil. The inlet is connected to any suitablesource of cold water supply while the outlet may be arranged todischarge A valved outlet 19 is provided in the top of cover 15 andcontrols communication between the interior of container 10 and theatmosphere. A safety valve 20 is also provided in cover 15 in order toprevent excessive pressures existing within the container. 1

The operation of this form of my invention is as follows:

Container 10 is partially filled with any suitable cleaning fluid, suchas soap and water, and the articles to be cleaned are introducedtherein. Cover 15 is now clamped in place and heat applied to thecontents of the container by means of burner 11. Valve 19 is at firstopen and the vapor formed by the heating of the liquid within thecontainer expels air contained therein through this valve. Whensubstantially all of the air has thus been expelled and steam begins toissue from valve 19, the valve is closed and cooling water is circulatedthrough coil 18. The vapor now formed within the container will becondensed in the upper part thereof by coming in contact with the coldcoils 18 and the condensate thus formed will drop back into the mainbody of the liquid; By proper regulation of the flow of cooling waterthrough coil 18 and of the rate of heating by burner 11, and inasmuch aspractically all of the air has been expelled from container 10, apressure less than atmospheric may be obtained within the container.This will result in a more violent boiling action taking place in theliquid and greater volumes of vapor will thereforebe produced. This hasthe double advantage of producing greater agitation of the materials tobe a cleaned and obtaining this agitation at a lower temperature thanwould be the case if the boiling took place at atmospheric pressure.Because a partial vacuum exists within container 10 clamps 16 (thoughdesirable) are not absolutely. essential, as the greater pressure of theatmosphere will hold cover 15 securely in place.

Fluid mixtures may be used in the process. I have found that a mixtureof water and trichlorethylene is good. The latter liquid begins boilingat about 160 at atmospheric pressure. a

Greater ebullition takes place at the lowthe interior of the container.

steam is 100 cubic feet per pound; while the specific volume atatmospheric pressure, that is to say, at 212 F. is only 27 cubic feetper pound. In the former case therefore, a given amount of heat willproduce a steam volume fifteen times as great as in the latter case.This great amount of steam passes through the liquid and consequentlyalso through the goods to be washed whereby a thorough scrubbing andcleaning is obtained. Furthermore the rate of heat radiation isdiminished due to the lower temperature. Perforated plate 17 preventstheclothes or other goods to be washedfrom contacting the condenser andhindering condensation. Obviously the process may also be carried out athigh pressures and temperatures. This may be desirable for instance, insterilizing clothesor bottles. The rate of supply of cooling water canbe regulated to obtain any desired pressure within the container withina large range; or this may be accomplished by regulating the heat supplyas by controlling a valve in the gas supply line to gas burner 11. Ifthere is a low pressure in the container, this can be increased byadmitting air through valve 19.

The closing of the evaporation-condensation cycle within a hermeticallysealed container is advantageous in preventing escape of vapor. This isparticularly advantageous when using a fluid, as in dyeing, which givesoff injurious vapors or vapors of unpleasant odor.

By using trichlorethylene in connection with water the partial pressureof the steam may be below atmospheric pressure while the bottom of thecontainer is formed with a pocket 21 extending to a point well within Athermosiphon conduit 22 communicates with the bottom of the containerand extends within and through pocket 21 to communicate with the uppercentral part of the container. The

lower part of thermo-siphon conduit 22 is arranged to be intenselyheated by burner 11. An ordinary liquid gauge 23 may be provided in theside of container 10 in order to show the level of the liquid containedtherein. A filter member in the form of a tray 24 is removably securedjust below the discharge end of thermo-siphon conduit 22 within theupper part of the container. Tray 24 is filled with any suitablefiltering material 25, such as steel wool, charcoal or the like, andperforations 26 are formed in the side of the tray.

In operating this form of the invention, cleaning fluid and the articlesto be cleaned are placed within container 10, as described in connectionwith Fig. 1, filter tray 24 and 1 cover are placed in position withvalve 19 open and heat is applied by burner 11. The

liquid contained within the lower part of thermo-siphon conduit 22 isheated much more rapidly than is the main body of liquid within thecontainer. Vapor and liquid are expelled from the upper end of conduit22,

and this vapor tends to expel air within the container through valve 19.Thus it will be seen that the air may be expelled without bringing theentireportion of the cleaning fluid to a boiling point atatmosphericpressure. When the vapor of the cleaning fluid starts to issue through'valve19 the valve is closed and cooling water is circulated through coils 18.This 'coolingaction condenses the vapor in the upper part of the container and thus reduces the pressure therein.

This reduced pressure in conjunction with the heat supplied tothe mainbody of liquid causes the liquid .to boil. The liquid which is ejectedfrom the upper end of thermosiphon conduit 22 is collected in tray 24and I must pass through the filtering material 25 before returning tothe main body of liquid and thus impurities are removed therefrom andthe amount of cleaningthat may be accomplished by a given quantity ofcleanin fluid is greatlyincreased. It will be seen that in j thismodification boiling at a reduced temperature and pressure was obtainedwithout first bringing the entire quantity of cleaning fluid to itsboiling point under atmospheric pressure, which was necessary in thedevice shown in Fig. 1 in order to expel the air. This is of particularadvantage in cleaning materials liable to be damaged by a hightemperature and also requires less heat.

In Fig. 3 container 10 isshown constructed of corrugated metal in orderto give additional strength which is desirable when the interior ofthecontainer 15 under a partial vacuum. Cover 15 is preferably similarto the cover shown in connection with Fig. 1. A partition 27 divides theinterior of container 10 into two unequai chambers, communicationbetween which exists above and below the partition. A heating member,here shown a.s an electric heating element 28, is provided in the lowerpart of container 10 and under the smaller compartment as determined bypartition 27. p i In the operation ofthis embodiment material to becleaned and the cleaning fluid are placed in the container and the coverplaced thereon and heat applied by'means of heating element'28. Thevapor first formed serves to drive the air from thecontainer throughvalve 19, which is closed after, substantially all of the air has beendriven out. The arrangement of heating element 28 beneath-the lowercompartment within chamber 10 tends to set up a circulation of liquidupwardly through this compartment anddownwardly through the'largercompartment. This circulation of liquid will carry materials to becleaned along with it and thus intense agitation of the materials willbe obtained without in any way subjecting them to the danger tion to theoutside of the cover. The short leg of the l. is'vertical while the longleg is substantially horizontal and. is provided with heat radiatingfins 30. A suitable liquid, such as sulphur dioxide, is hermeticallysealed within conduit 29 and is under such.

a pressure that it will be in liquid state at the temperature of thesurrounding air. When this typeof cover is used in connection withapparatus shown in either Figs. 1, 2 or 3, the vapor formed bytheheating of the cleaning liquid comes in-heat exchange relation with. thesulphur dioxide contained within conduit 29 by means of conductionthrough cover 15. The sulphur dioxide is thereby vaporized and thisvapor passes into the substantially horizontal part of conduit 29 andradiates heat into the atmosphere with the aid of fins 30. The sulphurdioxide is thus condensed and runs back into the vertical leg. The heatremoved from vapor within container 10 to cause vaporization'of thesulphur dioxide causes the condensation of the vapor of the cleaningfluid and the condensate returns to the main body of cleaning fluid.

lln Fig. 5 the cooling water coils 18 instead of being arranged incover15 are placed around the interior of the upper pa'rt of container 10.Perforated plate 17 is in this embodiment formed as a vertical, cylinderleaving an annular space between itself and the wall of container 10 inwhich coils 18 are placed. Cooling action of the coils in thisarrangement is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1, 2 or 3..

In Fig. 6 the apparatus shown in Fig. 1

is slightly modified in order that it may be used for drying materialsas well as cleaning them. Within container 10 is placed a basketlikestructure 31 in which materials suchas dishes or bottles or fabrics tobe dried may be placed and held out of contact with the walls of thecontainer in order that they will not be injured by the high temperatureat which the wall is maintained. A moisture collecting receptacle 32 issecured beneath the more central part of perforated plate 17 anddirectly under cooling Water coils 18.

When it is wished to dry materials in this device cleaning liquid isemptied therefrom and a basket 31 inserted within container 10. Thearticles are then placed within the basket and cover 15 secured inplace. Upon the application of heat to the container the liquid held inthe materials is driven off in the form of vapor and, cooling waterbeing passed through coils 18, this moisture is condensed thereon. Themoisture thus condensed is caught in the collector 32 and does notreturn to the materials being dried, while at the same time it is notfree to escape. Valuable fiuid such as dyeing fluid or hydrocarboncleaning fluid can thus be recovered.

A basket of this nature may be used in washing when it is convenient inhandling the goods to be treated.

In Fig. 7 is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention which isintended to be of a more or less fixed nature, that is to say,permanently connected to a house water system, but this is notnecessarily the case. Container 10 is here shown as being partiallysurrounded by a cylindrical fiue 33 at the bottom of which is placed agas burner 11. A conduit 34 communicates. with the upper part of flue 33and serves to lead off the products of combustion. Flue 33 is set withina water heating tank 35 which is supported by suitable legs 36. Cover 15is here shown either degrees centigrade or Fahrenheit and "a is thendiverted through conduit 46.

also has markings thereon indicating preferable temperatures'forcleaning different kinds of materials.

A water supply conduit 37 communicates with the upper part of container10 and is provided with a valve 38. A conduit 39 communicates withconduit 37, is provided with a.valve 40 and communicates with coolingwater coils 18, which are here shown as being. placed around the outsideof the upper part of container 10 in'heatexchange relation therewith. Anoutlet from coils 18 communicates with a nozzle 41 which forms part ofan ejector 42- The conduit 43 provided with a valve 44 communicates withthe upper part of container 10 and with the suction side of ejector 42.The outlet of ejector 42 discharges into a funnel-like member 45 which,communicates with conduits 46 and 47. Conduit 46 leads to waste whileconduit 47 communicates with the interior of water' heating tank35.Conduit 47 is provided with a float valve 48 which is arranged to beclosed when the level of liquid within tank 35 approaches the topthereof, and the water A perforated plate. 17 is supported withinprovided on container 10 so that the level of liquid therein may bemaintained just below the perforated plate. A valved outlet 12 isprovided at the bottom of container 10 and a similar valve outlet 49 isprovided at the bottom of water heating tank 35, while an air vent 5Oestablishes communication between the top of tank 35 and the atmosphere.

The operation of this form of the device is as follows: The materials tobe cleaned are introduced into container 10 and plate 17 and cover 15are secured in place. Valve 38 in water supply conduit 37 is opened andwater is admitted to container 10 until the proper level is obtained asindicated'by water gauge 23. Valve 38 is now closed and valves 40 and 44are open. The flow of water through nozzle 41 in ejector 42 serves toreduce the pressure in that portion of the ejector which communicateswith conduit 43 and thus air is drawn from the interior of container 10and the pressure therein is reduced. When a sufiicient vacuum has thusbeen obtained, valve 44 is closed. Burner 11 is now lighted and the heatsupplied to the liquid within the container will cause it to boil at atemperature lower than that at which it would boil if atmosphericpressure existed within the container. The vapor formed by the boilingof the liquid will be condensed by being brought in heat exchangerelation with cooling water coils 18 and the condensate will becontinuously returned to the main body of liquid.

llhe water discharged from coil 18 will be heated somewhat and will passthrough funnel 45 and conduit 47 into water heating tank 35 until thetank is substantially filled, whereupon valve 48 will be closed and thewater will now pass through conduit 46. Within tank 35 the water will beheated by the hot gases passing through flue 33 and thus a supply of hotwater will be on hand. Most of the heat utilized in heating the waterwithin tank 35 would otherwise be wasted in radiation to the atmosphere.

The. device shown in Fig. 8 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 7except that a thermo-siphon circulator and filter are included. Thearrangement of the pocket 21, thermosiphon conduit 22 and filter tray 24is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 and additional description here isnot deemed .necessary. Likewise the operation is substantially the same,thatis, cleaning fluid is caused to circulate by thermo-siphon actionupwardly through conduit 22 and the liquid issuing from the upper end ofthe conduit is caught rial 25 before returning to the main body ofliquid. 7

j Y The purpose of perforated plate 17 shown in tray 24 and passesthrough filtering matein all of the embodiments is to prevent thematerials which are being cleaned from comthe several embodiments of myinvention, it

is to be understood that modifications thereof, such as would occur toone skilled in the art, fall within its scope. For instance,

, automatic means, such as a thermostat or a pressure responsive deviceeflected by conditions within container 10 may be employed to regulatethe rate of heating or the OW of cooling water or both. My invention isto be limited only by the appended claims viewed in the light of theprior art.

What liclaim is:

1. A method of treating material such as fabrics to be cleaned whichcomprises subjecting the material to contact With a body of liquid,heating the liquid to form vapor ot the liquid, condensing the vaporthus formed, returning the condensed liquid to the body of liquid andapplying the heat and effecting the condensation at such rates as toproduce agitation in the body of liquid.

2. A method of treating articles to be cleaned which comprisessubjecting the articles to contact with a body-of liquid, heating theliquid to form vapor of the liquid, con densing the vapor thus tormed,returning the condensed liquid. to the body of liquid and applying theheat and effecting the condensation at such rates as toobtain a pressureabove the liquid at a value less than atmospheric.

3. A method of treating articles to be i cleaned whichcomprises'subjecting the artiapplying the heat and efiecting the.condensa-- cles to contact Witha body of liquid, heating the liquid toform vapor of the liquid, condensing the vapor thus formed, returningthe condensed liquid to the body of liquid and tion at such rates as toproduce ebullition of the liquid at a temperature below its boilingpoint at atmospheric pressure.

4. A method of treating articles to be cleaned which comprisessubjecting the articles to contact with a body of liquid, heating theliquid to forma vapor of the liquid, removing air' from the neighborhoodof the liquid, condensing the vapor thus formed, returning the condensedliquid to the body of liquid and applying the heat and efi'ecting thecondensation at such rates as to obtain a pressure above the liquid at avalue less than atmospheric.

5. A method of treating articles to be cleaned which comprisessubjecting the ma- P neighborhood of the liquid, condensing the.

vapor, returning the condensed liquid to the body of liquid and applyingthe heat and effecting the condensation at such rates as to obtain apressure above the liquid at a value less than atmospheric.

6. A method of treating articles to be cleaned which comprisessubjecting the articles to contact with a body of liquid, vaporizing aportion of the liquid, utilizing the vapor to circulate remainingliquid, condensing the vapor, returning the condensed liquid to the bodyof liquid, filtering the circulated liquid and returning the filteredliquid to the body of liquid.

7. A method of treating articles. to be cleaned which comprisessubjecting the articles to contact with a body of liquid, heatingarelatively small portion of the liquid to form vapor of the liquid,utilizing the vapor thus formed to expel air from the neighborhood oftheliquid, condensing the vapor thus formed, returning the condensed liquidto' obtain a pressure less than atmospheric above the liquid and heatingthe body of liquid sufiiciently to cause ebullition at the reducedpressure. r

8. A method of treating articles -to' be cleaned which com risessubjecting the articles to contact wit a body of liquid, heat ing arelatively small portion of the liquid to form vapor of the liquid,utilizing the vapor thus formed to circulate remaining cleaning fluidand to expel air from the neighborhood of the liquid, condensing thevapor thus formed, returning. the condensed liquid to the body ofliquid, filtering the circulated liquid, returning the filtered liquidto the body of liquid, applying heat and effecting ticles to contactwith a body of liquid, heating a relatively small portion of the liquidtoform vapor of theliqu-id, condensing the vapor thus. formed, returningthe condensed liquid to the body of liquid and applying the heat andeffecting the condensation at such rates as to produce agitation in thebody of liquid. 1

10. A method of treating articles to be cleaned which comprisessubjecting the articles to contact with a body of liquid, heating arelatively small portion of the liquid to form vapor of the liquid,utilizing the vaor thus formed to expel air from the neighborhood of theliquid, condensing the vapor thus formed, returning the condensed liquidto the body of liquid, applying the heat andeffecting the condensationat such rates as I to obtain a pressure less than atmospheric ly closesaid container, means to vaporize cleaning fluid contained therein,means includmg a surface adapted to be cooled to con- 9, dense the vaporwithin said container, and

means for preventing contact of the agitated material with the cooledsurface.

12. In a device for cleaning articles, a container having a space forreception of material to be agitated, means to hermetically close saidcontainer, means to vaporize cleaning fluid contained therein, means toobtain a partial vacuum in said container while it is hermeticallyclosed and means to prevent contact of the agitated material with thevacuum producing means.

13. In a device for cleaning articles, a container having a space forreception of material to be agitated, a filter, means for supportingsaid filter above material in said space,

means comprising athermo-siphon to circulate cleaning fluid within saidcontainer and through said filter, a cover hermetically seal ing saidcontainer and condensing means within the container above said filter.

14. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, means to eflectboiling of a portion of a body of cleaning fluid contained therein, anoutlet for the passage of air expelled from the 3 container by the vaporresulting from the boiling, means to hermetically close said containerand means to obtain a partial vacuum in said container while it ishermetically closed.

15. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, means tohermetically close saidcontainer, a thermo-siphon conduit communicatingat one end with the lower part of the container and extending-into themore central part thereof, means to heat said container and saidthermo-siphon conduit, a perforated plate dividing the interior of saidcontainer into a boiling chamber and a condensing chamber, a coolingcoil in heat ex- 0 change relation with said condensing chamber and anair valve controlling communication betweenthe interior and exterior ofsaid container.

v 16. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, athermo-siphonconduit communicating with saidcontainer, means to vaporize cleaningfluid within said thermo-siphon conduit, an outlet for the passage ofair ex-- pelled from the container by the vapor thus formed, means tohermetically close said container and means to obtain apartial vacuum insaid container while it is hermetically closed.

17 In a device for cleaning articles, a container, a perforated memberdividing said uid to said boiling chamber and means to control therelative rates of vaporization and condensation so that a pressure lessthan atmospheric is obtained within said container.

18. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, cleaning fluidcirculating means connecting diflerent portions of said container, aheater to effect local boiling of a portion of a body of cleaning fluidcontained in said circulating means, means to' hermetically close saidcontainer and means in addition to said heater to eflect boilingthroughout the entire body of cleaning fluid.

19. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, thermo-siphon meanscomprising a heater to effect boiling of a portion of a body of cleaningfluid contained therein, means to hermetically close said container andmeans to condense the vapor resulting from the boiling whereby a partialvacuum is obtained and boiling of the entire body of liquid results.

20. In adevice for cleaning articles, a container, means to hermeticallyclose said container, means comprising a heater to cause cleaning fluidwithin said container to boil, means to discharge air from the containerdue to vapor produced by the boiling and means to produce a partialvacuum in said container while it is hermetically closed.

21. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, thermo-siphonm'eansto effect boiling of a portion of a body of cleaning fluid con- 105tained therein, means to hermetically close said container and means toproduce a partial vacuum in said container while it is hermeticallyclosed.

22, In a device for cleaning articles, a container, means tohermetically-close said container, means to heat said container tovaporize cleaning fluid contained therein, means to discharge air fromsaid container due to vapor formed therein and meansto condense thevapor within said container.

23. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, means tohermetically close said. container, means to heat said container tovaporize cleaning fluid contained therein, means 129 to discharge airfrom said container due to vapor formed therein and means to produce apartial vacuum in said container whileit is hermetically closed.

24:. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, a perforated memberdividing said container into a relatively large boiling chamber forcontaining material to be cleaned and cleaning fluid and a relativelysmall condensing chamber, means to vaporize cleaning fluid in saidboiling chamber, means to condense the vapor thus formed in thecondensing chamber, means to return the condensed liquid. to saidboiling chamber and" means to control the relative rates of vaporizationand condensation so that ebullition occurs in the liquid in said boilngchamber at a temperature below its boiling point at atmosphericpressure.-

25. In a device for cleaning articles, a'container, means tohermetically close said container,a gas burner arranged to heat saidcontainer, an annular flue around the lower part of said container, awater heating tank around said flue, a cooling water conduit in 1 heatexchange relation with the upper part of said container and a connectionbetween said cooling water conduit and said water heating tank.. I

26. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, means tohermetically close said container, a perforated plate dividing saidcontainer into a boiling chamber and a condensing chamber, a gas burnerarranged to heat said boiling chamber, an annular flue aroundsaidboiling chamber, a water heating tank around said flue, a coolingwater conduit in heat exchange relation with said condensing chamber anda connection between said cooling waterconduit and said, water heatingtank.

27. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, means tohermetically close said container, a gas burner arranged to causevaporization of cleaning fluid within said container, an annular fluearound a portion of said container, a water heater tank around 'saidflue, means comprisinga cooling water conduit to efl'ect condensation ofvapor in the upper part of said container'and a connection between saidcooling water conduit and said water heating .tank.

28. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, means tohermetically close said container, a gas burner arrangedtocausevaporization of cleaningfluid within said contamer, an annular fluearound a portion of said container, a water heating tank around saidflue, means comprising a cooling water conduit to effect condensation ofvapor in the upper part of said container, a connection'between saidcooling water conduit and.

said water heating tank and means regulating the relative rates ofvaporization and condensation so as to obtain a partial vacuum in saidcontainer.

29. In a device for cleaning articles, a container. means tohermetically close said container, a valved conduit for supplyingcleaning fluid to said container, a perforated plate dividing saidcontainer into a boiling and a condensing chamber, a cooling waterconduit in heatexchange relation with said condensing chamber, a gasburner arranged to heat said boiling chamber, an annular flue aroundsaid boiling chamber for the passage of products of combustion, anannular water heating tank around said flue, means to obtain a partialvacuum within said container comprising an ejector communicating withthe interior of said container through a valved conduit, aconnection'between said cooling water coil and said ejector, aconnection between'the outlet of said ejector and said water heatingtank and a valved outlet from said water heating tank.

30. A method of treating material such as fabrics to be cleaned whichcomprises submerging the material in a body of liquid, heating theliquid to-form vapor of the liquid, condensing the vapor above and inthe vicinity of the body of liquid, returning the condensed liquid tothe body of liquid -and applying the heat and effecting the condensation at such rates as to produce a partial vacuum above the surfaceof the body of liquid and agitation in the body of liquid.

31. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, means tohermetically close said con- .tainer,- a partition within said containerforming communicating chambers 011 each side of said partition adaptedto hold liquid and means to cause agitation of the liquid and producedifferent levels of liquid in the chambers comprising condensing meansabove the liquid in the container and means to heat the chambersunequally.

32. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, means tohermetically close said container, a partition within said containerforming communicating chambers on each side of said partition adapted tocontain liquid, condensing means above the liquid in the container andheating means forthe container, said heating'means being arranged in oneof said chambers to produce different levels of liquid in the chambersand to cause agitation of the liquids.

33. In a device for cleaning articles, a container, a partition withinsaid container forming communicating chambers on each side of saidpartition adapted to contain liquid, means for heating the liquid,condensing means in said container for condensing vapors formed byheating the liquid 1n one of said chambers, and means for removing airtherefrom, the arrangement being such that the removal of air and theheatlng of the liquid and the condensation of the vapor produceagitation and variat on of liquid level between the chambers. Q

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

